Method of splicing a web of a running roll to the leading edge of a new roll

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION RELATES IN GENERAL TO NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SPLICING OF WEBS AND MORE PARTICULARLY RELATES TO THE HIGH SPEED SPLICING OF THE WEB OF A RUNNING ROLL TO THE LEADING END OF A NEW ROLL AS THE RUNNING ROLL MEANS THE END THEREOF, APPLYING A FIRST PASTE TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE NEW ROLL IN A PRESCRIBED PATTERN, APPLYING A SECOND INACTIVE PASTE TO FILL IN THE VACANT SPACES OF THE PATTERN, BONDING THE LEADING EDGE TO THE EXPIRING ROLL AND ACTIVATING THE SECOND PASTE TO OBTAIN A CONTINUOUS BOND ACROSS THE SHEET.

Jan. 12,1971

Filed Sept, so. 1966 1 PRIOR ART T. LUC4ZIYK'ETT. sR 3,554,829

METHOD OF SPLICING A WEB OF A RUNNING ROLL TO THE LEADING EDGE OF A NEW-ROLL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS T. J. LUCKETT. SR METHOD OF SPLICING AWB B OF A RUNNING ROLL TO THE LEADING EDGE OF A NEW ROLL 3 Sheets-Sheet8 Filed Sept. 30 1956 TO BRUSH 8| KNIFE RELEASE CIRCUIT COMPRESSEDINVENTOR THOMAS J. LUCKETT, Sr.

ATTORNEYS fla /ll m M W Jan. 12, 1971 'r. J. LUCKETT, SR 3,554,829

METHOD OF SPLICING A WEB OF A RUNNING ROLL TO THE LEADING EDGE OF A NEWROLL Filed Sept. 30, 1966 a Sheets-Sheet a rim / THOMAS J.LUCKETT,SII

mgmwm ATTORNEYj United States Patent 3,554,829 METHOD OF SPLICING A WEBOF A RUNNING ROLL TO THE LEADING EDGE OF A NEW ROLL Thomas J. Luckett,Sr., 7901 Pennsylvania Ave. Extended,

Suitland, Md. 20012 Filed Sept. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 583,392

Int. Cl. B65h 69/02 U.S. Cl. 156157 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis invention relates in general to new'and useful improvements in thesplicing of webs and more particularly relates to the high speedsplicing of the web of a running roll to the leading end of a new rollas the running roll nears the end thereof, applying a first paste to theleading edge of the new roll in a prescribed pattern, applying a secondinactive paste to fill in the vacant spaces of the pattern, bonding theleading edge to the expiring roll and activating the second paste toobtain a continuous bond across the sheet.

The splicing of a new roll of web material to the web material of arunning roll in high speed equipment, such as printing presses, whilehaving been solved to a certain degree, requires many improvements. Withparticular reference to the forming of a splice between the webs ofpaper rolls in conjunction with high speed printing presses, the spliceswhich are. more frequently formed have numerous deficiencies among whichare the following:

('1) A complete seal is not formed'across the webs.

(2) There is frequently a cross wrinkle which forms at the open track ofthe customary drive belt area which results in the breakage of the webin the folder.

(3) There is an open pocket in the splice due to the unsealed drive beltarea, which open pocket blows out in the high velocity overland hangs inmechanical trip detectors or on safety bars.

(4) Due to the fact that only the leading edge of the new web is bondedto the running web, when the running web is cut off after the formationof splice, there exists an unsealed tail which may hang into theequipment and effect a jamming thereof.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to provide a new webwith a conventional wet paste arrangement which includes an uncoatedarea which may be freely contacted by the customary drive belt to effectthe acceleration of the new roll up to the web speed of the runningroll. In addition, a dry paste is applied to the drive belt area, whichdry paste may be contacted by the drive belt without the coating of thedrive belt by the dry paste. At the time. the web of the running roll isbeing brought into engagement with the web of the new roll, a solventfor the dry paste is applied to the running web in alignment with thedrive belt area whereby after the initial splice has been effected bymeans of the wet paste, the solvent carried by the running roll willactivate the dry paste and result in a complete sealing of the splicebetween the two webs as the webs pass over certain of the guide rolls ofthe equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus forapplying the solvent for the dry paste, which apparatus is readilymountable on the existing equipment and which is movable to an out ofthe way position by means of the same apparatus which effects themovement of the conventional pusher brush and cutoff knife to an out ofthe way position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel solventapplicator in accordance with the foregoing object wherein the sprayingof the solvent is controlled by the means for controlling thepositioning of the pusher brush and the actuation of the cutoff knife.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel sprayapparatus for the solvent wherein there is provided a spray nozzle towhich there is connected a reservoir having a solvent level disposedbelow the plane of the spray nozzle, and the solvent reservoir being ofa sealed construction and having selectively coupled thereto a source ofcompressed gas which will effect the flow of the solvent out through thespray nozzle and when the reservoir is vented to the atmosphere, willresult in the immediate cutoff of the spray fluid.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method ofpasting together two webs along the usual drive belt area wherein theapplication of the paste and/0r solvent requires no critical timing.

With the above and other objects in view that will here inafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the. appended claims and theseveral views in a well known pattern for the formation of a splice.

FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 and shows the arrangement of thepaste applied to the paper roll in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view with parts being broken away and shownin section of a conventional reel and paster which has applied theretothe pasting apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partially schematic, rear perspective view ofthe reel and paster of FIG. 3 and shows in more detail the structure andposition of the paster apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing generally the details of the solventapplicator and the manner in which the operation thereof is controlled.

FIG. 6 is a plan View of two Webs spliced together in accordance withthis invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 3 and shows thedetails of a modified form of pasting apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary rear perspective view showing further thedetails of the pasting apparatus in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 9-9 of FIG. 8 and shows more specifically the details of thepasting apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 a conventional reel and paster which isgenerally referred to by the numeral 10. Only those portions of the reeland paster 10 which are directly involved with respect to this inventionwill be described.

The reel and paster includes a reel which is generally referred to bythe numeral 11 and has three pairs of arms, which pairs of arms arereferred to by the numerals 12, 13 and 14. In the illustrated positionof the reel 11, the arms 12 carry a running roll 15, the web 16 of whichis suitably guided for movement along a predetermined path.

The arms 13 carry a new roll 17 which is to be spliced to the runningroll 15. The new roll 17 is in an uppermost position. The arms 14 aredisposed in a position for receiving a third roll 18. It is to beunderstood that the roll 18 is applied while the web 16 of the runningroll 15 is paying out. The reel 11 indexes in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 3, so as to present the various rolls intheir proper sequence.

It is to be understood that when the new roll 17 is spliced to therunning roll 15, the speed of web travel is not too diminished.Accordingly, it is necessary to bring the web speed of the new roll 17up to the speed of the web 16 of the running roll. This is accomplishedby one or more roll accelerator belts which are disposed slightly abovethe new roll 17 and which, when brought into engagement with the roll 17and driven at the proper speed, will bring the speed of the web of theroll 17 up to the speed of the web 16. The roll accelerator belts 20engage the rolls 17 along areas which are identified as the drive beltareas 21 best shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3 it is clearly shown that normally the web 16 passes from therunning roll 15 around a guide roll 22 in spaced relation to the newroll 17. However, when the splice is to be formed, the running web 16 isbrought into engagement with the web of the new roll 17 by means of apusher element in the form of a brush 23. Also, after the proper elapseof time, the running web 16 is severed by means of a knife 24.

Referring now to FIG. 4 in particular, it will be seen that the brush 23and the knife 24 are carried by a suitable support assembly which isgenerally referred to by the numeral 25. The support assembly 25includes a pair of transversely aligned frame members 26 of which onlyone is shown. The frame members 26 carry a pair of positioning screws27, of which only one is shown. The positioning screws, in turn, carry asuitable frame 28 for vertical movement to an out of the way positionwith respect to the path of movement of the reel 11 and the rollscarried thereby in the manner generally shown in FIG. 3. The frame 28,among other elements, includes a transverse bar 29. The frame alsocarries a guide roll 22.

A pair of transversely aligned shafts 30 extend towards each other fromopposite sides of the frame and have mounted thereon depending arms 31which are connected together at their lower ends by a bar 32.Immediately adjacent the arms 31 are arms 33 which are mounted on theshafts 31 for pivotal movement and which support the brush 23. It is tobe understood that the arms 33 are spring loaded, in a manner not shown,to urge the brush 23 towards the roll 17.

The frame 28 also supports a pair of bars 34 and 35 which form guidesfor the knife 24.

Referring now to the right-hand part of FIG. 5, it will be seen thatthere is illustrated schematically the mechanism for controlling theoperation of the brush 23 and the knife 24. A latch member 36 ispivotally mounted as at 37 and is coupled to an arm 38 of a solenoid 40.The latch member 36 has a finger 41 which is normally engaged behind ashoulder 42 on at least one of the arms 33. When the finger 41 releasesthe arms 33, the brush 23 is automatically spring urged to bring therunning web 16 into engagement with the new roll 17.

After the brush 23 has been released and the running web 16 is broughtinto engagement with the new roll 17, the solenoid is further actuatedto depress a catch member 43 for the knife 24 and permit the knife 24 toCir be released and brought into a web shearing engagement with therunning web 16. At this time it is pointed out that the manner in whichthe brush 23 and the knife 24 are reset is not a part of this inventionand no details thereof will be given here. It is also pointed out thatthe solenoid 40 is suitably mounted on the frame 28 in the manner shownin FIG. 4.

Returning now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that inasmuch as the paste usedin forming the splice between the running web 16 and the new web must beactivated at the time the webs are brought together, it is necessarythat the paste be wet at the time of engagement. Accordingly, it iscustomary to apply paste, preferably wet paste, to the free end of theweb of the new roll 17 in the pattern shown in FIG. 1, the paste beingidentified by the numeral 45. It is to be noted that the paste 45 is notapplied along the drive belt areas 21. Incidentally, while the pastepattern is a pointed one, in the case of narrow rolls, the paste patterncould be diagonal in one direction only.

It is also pointed out here that the leading edge or edges of the web ofthe new roll, which web is identified by the numeral 47, is defined by astrip or strips of tape 46, the exposed surface of which is nontacky andwhich facilitates the tearing off of end portions of the new Web 47.Also, the extreme leading part of the new web 47 is releaseably bondedto the underlying portion of the roll 17 by means of small tabs 48 whichare immediately pulled from the remainder of the roll 17 upon thebonding of the wet paste 45 to the running web 16.

The pattern of the wet paste 45, which is in conventional pattern, hasmany obvious deficiencies. These deficiencies were listed at thebeginning of this disclosure and will not be discussed in detail here.However, it is obvious that due to the voids in the pattern of the wetadhesive 45 along the drive belt areas 21, an incomplete splice isformed. Secondly, it is obvious that it is impossible to sever therunning web 16 exactly in alignment with the trailing part of theadhesive pattern 45. It is the purpose of this invention to overcomethese deficiencies of the pasting operation.

In accordance with this invention, dry paste 50 is applied to the drivebelt areas 21 in the manner clearly shown in FIG. 2. The dry paste 50 isapplied in a greater circumferential extent than the wet paste 45 withthe extent of the dry paste 50 being such so as to assure that the drypaste extends beyond the tail of the running web 16 after it has beensevered by the knife 24. It is to be understood that the dry paste 50will not come off on the roll accelerator belts 20 nor will it in anyway affect the driving of the roll 17 by the accelerator belts 20.

The dry paste 50 has no function whatsoever in the initial formation ofthe splice between the running web 16 and the new web 47. The wet paste45 alone performs the initial splice. However, in accordance with thisinvention, a suitable solvent for the dry paste 50 is applied to therunning web 16 generally in alignment with the drive belt areas 21 andafter the webs 16 and 47 have been initially spliced by the adhesiveaction of the wet paste 45, the solvent applied to the running web 16will activate the dry paste 50 and the dry paste 50 will adhesivelysecure the two webs together along the drive belt areas 21.

It is to be understood that while a certain amount of timing of thespraying must be effected in order to reduce the use of the solvent forthe dry adhesive 50 to a minimum, the timing is not critical and thesolvent, which is identified by the numeral 51 will be applied to therunning web 16 in advance of the point where the new web 47 is splicedthereto to assure that sufficient solvent will be applied. The sprayingof the solvent 51 will continue until the running web 16 is severed bythe knife 24, thereby assuring that the solvent 51 will be sprayed tothe full extent of the trailing edge of the running web 16. In thismanner, the usual loose tail of the running web 16 will be bonded to thenew web 47 along the drive belt areas 21 in the manner clearly shown inFIG. 6. It is to be noted thatthe dry adhesive 50 is applied to the newweb 47 beyond the trailing edge of the running web 16.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it will be seen that there is illustrated atypical solvent spraying apparatus which includes a reservoir 52. Thereservoir is constructed with a fil1er 53 at one end and a secondportion 54 elevated above the filler 53. To the potion 54 there isconnected a line 55 which leads tov a valve 56 actuated by means of asolenoid 57. The valve 56 has connected thereto a compressed gas line 58and an exhaust line 60.

The bottom of the reservoir 52 is provided with one or more outlets 61to which there are connected solvent supply lines 62 which lead to spraynozzles 63. Each of the nozzles 63 has incorporated therein a shutoffvalve 64 so that the spray nozzle may be rendered inactive. The spraynozzles 63 are. of conventional types and are preferably of the springloaded pressure actuated type so as to restrict dripping to a minimum.

It will be seen that inasmuch as the line 55 is coupled to the reservoir52 above any possible level of the solvent therein, there is nopossibility whatsoever of the solvent running back through the line 55into the valve 56 when the valve is moved from its pressure position toits exhaust position. Thus, there is no possibility of valve choke.

Referring now to FIG. 4 in particular, it will be seen that theadaptation of the solvent spray mechanism to the reel and paster is anextremely simple one. A pair of support bars 65 are adjustably clampedin depending relation to the bar 32 by means of simple -U clamps 66.Other U clamps 67 carried by the lower portions of the bars 65 supportthe reservoir 52. Suitable support brackets 68 are adjustably carried bythe bars 65 and support the nozzles 63. It will be readily apparent thatthe nozzles 63 are both transversely and vertically adjustable.

The solenoid controlled valve 56 is suitably mounted on the bar or framemember 29 with the line 55 extending therefrom down to the reservoir 52.It is also pointed out at this time that most printing presses areprovided with a source of compressed air and therefore, the compressedgas delivered to the valve 56 may be from the conventional compressedair source of the printing press.

It is further pointed out here that the solenoid 57 is wired in with thesolenoid 40 so that spraying of the solvent onto the running web 16 willcommence at the same time as the brush 23 is released and willdiscontinue when the knife 24 is actuated. Thus, there is an assurancethat the solvent is sprayed onto the running web 16 in advance of theapplication of the leading edge of the new web 47 to the running web andthat the spraying of the solvent 51 will continue to the trailing edgeof the running web 16.

It is also to be noted that all of the spray equipment, being mounted onthe support structure for the brush and the cutoff knife, is movabletherewith to an out of the way position automatically. Thus, themounting of the spraying equipment presents no problem whatsoever.Incidentally, at this time it is pointed out that although the solventis sprayed on that surface of the running web 16 remote from the surfacecontacted by the new web 47, the solvent will penetrate the running weband still activate the dry paste 50.

Although it is preferred that the solvent be sprayed on the rear surfaceof the running web 16, in some cases it will be desirable to spray thesolvent on the surface of the running web 16 which is contacted by thenew web of the roll 17. To this end, there is provided in FIGS. 7, 8 and9 a solvent applicator arrangement which will provide for such sprayingof solvent. In this arrangement, there is rigidly mounted on one of thesupports 26 a frame structure which is generally identified by thenumeral 70. This frame structure includes a horizontally positionedguide 71 which is disposed in an out of the way position at one side ofthe reel and paster 10. The guide 71 is suspended from the support 26 bya vertical frame unit 72 and braced therefrom by diagonal frame members73.

In this form of the invention, the reservoir, which is identified by thenumeral 74, is in the form of an elongated support member. At one end,the reservoir 74 is provided with a filler 75 and the opposite endthereof is provided with a fitting 76 to which the line 55 is connected.The guide 71 has a slot 77 therein in which a rack bar 78 carried by thereservoir 74 is guided. This prevents the turning of the reservoir 74within the guide 71.

As is best shown in FIG. 9, one or more of the spray nozzles 63 dependsfrom the underside of the reservoir 74. Each spray nozzle 63 hasassociated therewith a shutoff valve 64 to permit each of the spraynozzles 63 to be selectively rendered inoperative. If desired, thereservoir 74 may have a plurality of tapped openings in the undersidethereof which are normally plugged whereby the spacings of the spraynozzles 63 may be selectively varied.

In FIG. 8 the reservoir 74 is illustrated in its projected position infull lines and in its retracted position in phantom lines. Except at thetime a splice is being made, the reservoir 74 is retracted to an out ofthe way position. The projecting and retracting of the reservoir 74 isaccomplished by means of a pinion 80 which constantly meshes with therack bar 78. The pinion 80 is suitably mounted on the frame unit 72 forrotation and is driven by an auxiliary drive shaft 81 which is coupledto the lower end of an adjacent feed screw 27. The relationship of thefeed screw 27, the pinion 80 and the rack bar 78 the reservoir 74 isretracted; and as the brush 23 and the cutoif knife 24 is in an elevatedout of the Way position, the reservoir 74 is retracted; and as the brush23 and the cutoff knife 24 are lowered to their operative positions, thereservoir 74 and the spray nozzles 63 carried thereby are moved to theiroperative positions.

The operation of the spray nozzle 63 is controlled by the solenoidoperated valve 56 which is, in turn, controlled by the control for thesolenoid 40.

At this time it is pointed out that although only one reservoir 74 hasbeen illustrated, and the reservoir is mounted at one side only of thereel and paster 10, it is to be understood that there may be tworeservoirs with one of the reservoirs being mounted on each side of thereel and paster 10 for simultaneous operation.

It is also pointed out here that while the term paste has been utilizedthroughout to describe the adhesive utilized in forming the splice, itis not intended to restrict the invention to the strict sense of theterm. The term paste is utilized in the printing industry to cover alltypes of suitable adhesives utilized in splicing together webs under thegeneral conditions of this invention.

Although only two preferred embodiments of the invention have beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat minor variations may be made in the invention without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A method of pasting a free end of a new roll of paper to a runningroll of paper wherein the periphery of the new roll is accelerated tothe web speed of the running roll prior to pasting by means of anaccelerator belt which engages a predetermined drive area on the newroll, said method comprising the steps of applying a tacky operativefirst paste to the paper of said new roll along a pattern transverselythereof with the exception of said drive area, applying an initiallyinoperative second paste to the paper of said new roll along said drivearea, accelerating said new roll with an accelerator belt which engagessaid drive area including said second paste, securing the paper of saidnew roll to the paper of said running roll utilizing said first paste,and applying a solvent to said second paste to render said second pasteoperative to form a complete splice across the paper of said rolls.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is applied to the paper ofsaid running roll and transferred to said second paste thereby.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is applied to the paper ofsaid running roll and transferred to said second paste thereby, saidsolvent being applied to the paper of said running roll in advance ofthe contacting thereof by the paper of a new roll.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is applied to the paper ofsaid running roll and transferred to said second paste thereby, saidsolvent being applied to that surface of the paper of said running rollcontacted by the paper of said new roll.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is applied to the paper ofsaid running roll and transferred to said second paste thereby, saidsolvent being applied to that surface of the paper of said running rollremote from the surface contacted by the paper of said new roll.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,526 5/1939 Tollison 1561571,969,849 8/1934 Knowlton 156-157 2,320,656 6/1943 Roesen 156157X2,720,248 10/1955 Kipnis 156157X 2,812,145 11/1957 Meloche 156157X3,218,221 11/1965 Burns 156157X 3,325,328 6/1967 Henley l56157 CARL D.QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner B. H. HUNT, Assistant Examiner

